{"id":130076,"date":"2025-03-09T12:06:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-09T11:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cgfmanet.org\/infosphere\/emergenza-inondazioni-in-argentina\/"},"modified":"2025-03-09T17:23:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-09T16:23:55","slug":"flood-emergency-in-argentina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cgfmanet.org\/en\/humanitarian-emergencies-and-campaigns\/flood-emergency-in-argentina\/","title":{"rendered":"Flood emergency in Argentina"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bah\u00eda Blanca (Argentina). <\/strong>On 7 March 2025, a storm hit the city of Bah\u00eda Blanca, Argentina, about 630 kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires, with floods that caused more than 10 deaths and damage to infrastructure, buildings, and homes.<\/p>\n

In about eight hours of torrential rain, almost 400 millimeters of water have accumulated – while the monthly historical average is about 129 millimeters – causing the overflow of canals and flooding of roads that have turned into rivers, Dragging cars, trees, and whatever they encountered on the way.<\/p>\n

The city has been without electricity, telephone signal, and water, with all access blocked. For several hours, the airport was closed and water also flooded the intensive care and maternity wards of Jos\u00e9 Perna<\/em> hospital, which has been evacuated.<\/p>\n

The authorities have declared a state of emergency, preparing a plan for rescue by means of amphibious vessels of the Navy, deployment of forces and equipment of the army, fire brigade, civil protection, police, and humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n

Rescue teams have mobilized to rescue many people trapped in the buildings and more than 1,300 displaced persons are housed in reception centers.<\/p>\n

In Bah\u00eda Blanca, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Laura Vicu\u00f1a<\/em> Province (ARG) are present with a formation house, the Community Laura Vicu\u00f1a<\/em>, and with the Retirement Home St. Mary D. Mazzarello<\/em>, which have suffered serious damage caused by water and the infiltrations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Provincial, Sr. Silvia Boullosa, immediately reached Mother Chiara Cazzuola, communicating the dramatic situation:<\/p>\n

“Mother, we have experienced great floods in Bahia Blanca, south of the Province of Buenos Aires. At the retirement home, the Sisters are well for now. We don\u2019t have the staff but they help each other. There is no light. We still have no news of the Sisters who are at the Aspirantate and are next to a small stream.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Subsequently, Sister Silvia communicated to the FMA of the Province:<\/p>\n

“Dear sisters, the floods in Bahia Blanca have been very bad. The poorest have been hit hardest. As for the Retirement Home, they have no electricity or water. There is no staff for the Sisters, but until last night they were doing their best. As for the community of the Aspirantate, who live very close to the stream that runs behind the Retirement Home, the house is completely flooded, but everyone is fine. Communications are interrupted. We remain in communion of prayer.”<\/em><\/p>\n

This is the news sent on 8 March by the Animator of St. Mary D. Mazzarello Community, Sister Silvia Heit:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“Now we have no electricity; the Sisters are well. We all gave a hand to remove water from the house; the whole ground floor was flooded, all offices, the infirmary, the community rooms, the boarding house. But despite this, we could not do much because of the amount of water precipitated. It was dangerous to walk on the street because the water had flooded everything, there were no sidewalks.<\/em><\/p>\n

We hope that in the afternoon the situation will improve; we are on red alert.<\/strong><\/em> There are areas of the city where cars have been washed away, but here in downtown, where we are, this has not happened. We send a big hug to all of you. We hope this situation ends because it is causing a real disaster, many families have been evacuated.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians offers concrete support to the population and relies on the generosity and solidarity of all. Contributions and offerings can be submitted as indicated on the Web site of the FMA Institute<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, designating as the motive Emergency Argentina<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\r\n